Solo Ventures With Vicky – Montserrat

Hi. Welcome to Solo Ventures with Vicki, where I explore incredible countries around the world and focus on solo female travel. As a backpacker, adventure aficionado, and lover of the world, I found myself in some interesting situations and had some amazing moments which I'm happy to share with you. And of course, you can always learn from my errors. As well as looking at a wonderful country just a little bit closer every week and sharing your travel memories. I'll be opening up to a question time at the end where you can ask any question and I'll be answering them as best as I can. Just get in touch via my social media platforms or via OMSradio station. So that's STN on Twitter or email us presentersomansradiostation.com I'll also be looking at the perfect weekend break for you. And I'll also be playing you music on the move. So music that transports you to a travel memory or. Or a travel moment from artists we know and love and original unsigned female artists. Cool. So this week we'll be looking at a little bit closer at Montserrat. I've just stepped off from a long overnight plane from the Caribbean this morning and I'm sitting here, well, feeling proud of my tan, as I never get a tan, but also feel of just a positive energy, enthusiasm and joy at having visited such an enchanting island of Montserrat. The 1995 volcanic eruption from the Souf Hills volcano has left the island a little quiet on the tourism front. But don't let this put you off. Like the rustic charm of the island and real essence of local life is what makes this Caribbean island unique and unlike any other. I speak to Colette on Woodlands beach, who's lived in Montserrat for a few years now, and she shares why people should visit there. So I'm here in Montserrat. The sun's about to set, drinks are coming out, volleyball's on the beach, and I'm here with Colette. You've been here for a few years now. Why? What makes Montserrat so beautiful? I think first of all, it's the untouched island. So if you were to come to the Caribbean, this would be the place you'd think of about 20, 30 years ago in its natural form with a volcano that is just giving out gases, there's no danger here. It's just an amazing sight to see. When the clouds clear from the top and you see the fumaroles with all the gases coming out. And the people, of course, they're amazing. They're very Friendly. Always interested to meet you. We have a wedding party here on the beach, say, playing volleyball. The guys bought the net here just intending to play a friendly game, and some of the locals just came along and started playing and it's fantastic like that. And we've also got Air Studios, which is a brilliant place. That's where all the Beatles came. And magicians. Not magicians, musicians, Phil Collins, all those sorts of people. And so it's the Volcano and the Air Studios, all the little quaint bars and pubs here. There's nothing big or, you know, like all the Costcos and all these sort of Costa Coffees and things like that. And in each of the bars, they have very character people. We have John Ponce and we have Hilltop. We've got David Lee up there and he's. He's got this fantastic coffee shop with the memorabilia from the. The volcano and where Plymouth was destroyed and covered in ash. He's also been. Well, when the volcano was erupting, he was up there getting footage on the videos. So he's got loads of stuff to show people when they go up to the coffee shop. And then also he's managed to get things, retrieved things from Plymouth before it's completely buried. So lots of memorabilia there and lots of artists show their work there, which is another place. And I just think it's such a relaxing place. You just get away from everybody and that's it. Snorkeling, of course, and diving. We've got the reefs here. Antigua is beautiful, but it doesn't have anything as special as Montserrat. And I think you've got to come here to see it. Perfect. Thank you so much for talking to me. That was lovely. Thanks, Colette. As I've drunk from the local stream called the Runaway Gout, I'm sure I'll be back because they have this superstition that if you drink from this stream, you will return to Montserrat. So no doubt I'll be back for its nice, peaceful, calm way of life. If you've got a travel memory that you want to share on my show, feel free to get in touch. Just give me an email presentisomensradiostations.com or even tweet me @womensradiostn or also on my social media ickiecarter. Now, looking at a song from Music on the Move, one that we know and love as this weekend we're going to be looking at Manchester as a weekend away. I thought we'd need to hear from the band Oasis, obviously, because, you know, they're quite big. It's as an iconic band from Manchester, but come on, we're a female station and there are so many amazing female singers out there. So I found this wonderful artist who covers the Oasis classic Stop Crying youg Heart out from her album Echo. It's Leona Lewis. Hold on. Don't be scared, You'll never change what's been and gone be a smile, Shine on. Don't be scared. Your destiny may keep you warm Cause all of the stars fade it away Just try not to worry, you'll see them someday Take what you need and be on your way and stop crying your heart out. Get out, get out come. Just try not to worry, you'll see them someday what you need and be on your way and stop cracking your heart out. I. In your. Your sam. That was Leona Lewis covering Oasis with their Stop crying your heart out on the way for you. A weekend away in Manchester, one of my favourite cities in the world and I'll be answering a very important question. Stay tuned. Hi, I'm Sarah Austin and I'm the founder of the really Helpful Club, an online and offline community that helps, supports and connects thousands of women in our personal and business lives. We are buzzing. Join us to share and discover your best ideas. Come to our events to meet other members and learn something new. Book now for our London workshop on 10 May helping you prepare for and manage the menopause. Membership is free. Join now by visiting reallyhelpfulclub.com Please also find us on the Women's radio station. Hi, I'm Ekaterina Brechova, head of Conference Production City and Financial Global and I want to tell you about our vote 100 Women in Business Summit at the Royal garden hotel on 17th of April. Opened by her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex. It will be a great day full of useful content and amazing networking opportunities. To book for this fantastic event, please go to our website www.ctnfinancial.com or you can find us on Wimbledon womensradiostation.com Women's radio station will give a voice to your brand. Advertise your product, services or goods on air with a package tailored to suit you. For more information visit womensradiostation.com hi, my name is Gary Parker and my company is called CNT Associates. We provide fundraising, business support and training services for small businesses, charities and non profit making organizations. We've raised over £20 million since 2003 and we'd like to help you. Visit us ntassociates.com or on Twitter NT Associates Sale sale sale at Queenstyle Furniture up to 50% off all our furniture styles. We've got new styles and traditional styles. Italian style and German style styles, styles for your living room or styles for your bedroom, dining table styles or a variety of lighting styles. Queen style furniture Uxbridge Road, South Hall. We've got style. Ready for a challenge then take on the pink Ribbon walk for breast cancer care. Coming to Oxfordshire and Essex this summer, we've got everything covered from snacks along the route to a massage and medal when you cross the finish line. And while we support you with every step, you'll be doing something special to support the thousands of people going through one of the toughest challenges they'll ever face. Breast cancer. Visit breastcancercare.org.uk Walk Women's radio station is creating a global network for the empowerment of women and we want you to be involved. Join us on Instagram and Twitter womensradiostn or Facebook Women's radio station to keep up to date. Hi, I'm Michelle Bartlett, the founder of Live Laugh Love Ladies Club. We're looking for ladies to link arms across the globe. This is a new vibrant brand connecting women socially. Our club members enjoy great food, fun and inspiring speakers whilst making friends in a room of all generations. If you're a social butterfly in the community, this fast growing franchise could be for you. If you would like to know more about stepping into our pink shoes, then look at the business opportunity page on our website live laughloveladies club. Also@womensradiostation.com Hollywood Babes is a unique ladies wear boutique situated in Thorpe Broadway in South End on Sea. We carefully select all our lines and offer you only the very best in women's clothing. Here at Hollywood Babes, we ensure you look and feel the part. Whether it is for a special occasion or loungewear. We can help you find that special something to make you feel a million dollars. So pop on down to Hollywood Babes Thought Bay, Broadway, Essex and get ready to be styled. Hi, I'm Michelle Bartlett, the founder of Live Laugh Love Ladies Club. We're looking for ladies to link arms across the globe. This is a new vibrant brand connecting women socially. Our club members enjoy great food, fun and inspiring speakers whilst making friends in a room of all generations. If you're a social butterfly in the community, this fast growing franchise could be for you. If you would like to know more about stepping into our pink shoes, then look at the business opportunity page on our website Live laughloveloveladies Club Also at Women's Radio Station. Women's Radio Station can give a voice to your brand with a wide range of skills. Sponsorship opportunities, including individual programs. We can tailor your experience to you. For more information on how you can sponsor a show, go to womensradiostation.com right. A weekend away. One of my favourite cities in the world, like top three. Talking about the other two, by the way, are Madrid and Melbourne. But this time I'm looking at Manchester. I lived there for three years as a student, so I'm a little bit biased. I. But to be honest, it's the only place in England that I really feel at home where I really connect with. It's a smaller version of London and people are really friendly. People will sit and talk to you and have a chat and want to find out about your life. I mean, it's got Chinatown, it's got Deansgate, which is like similar to Soho. It's got Curry Ma, which is similar to Edgware Road. And it's home to so many independent music venues, Great shopping and an eclectic nightlife in the day. Really go and explore the canals around Deansgate. Stop for a ridiculous cheap pint at Sinclair's Oyster Bar. It's right by Selfridges. It's one of my favorite bars ever. They do their own cider, they do their own lager and it's like £2.50 or something and you can sit outside and you know, if fingers crossed, it's a sunny day, oh, it's wonderful. Then you can just watch people wander by. Also peruse, you know, vintage clothes and quirky items in Affleck's Palace. Go for a curry at Mugley or Sherecom. Those are two best in Curry Mull. After wandering around Whitworth Art Gallery or the Museum of Science and Industry. There's just so much going on in Manchester. See an upcoming artist in the Day and Night bar or a unique play at the Contact Theatre and spend your night bar hopping in Northern Quarter for edgy cocktails. And get rid of your hangover at one of the best burger places in the world. Almost famous. Just the thought of those burgers are mouth watering. Moving on. Music on the move. So now we're looking at a female unsigned artist. She describes wanting to create a special gift to mark her parents 30th wedding anniversary. As a novice guitar player, she learned a few chords on the guitar and this song just fell out. Using the first line, you are the one, Never any doubt, which her dad said to her mum and the rest kind of describes their intimate relationship. So her song focuses on the hardships that we face in life, the journey we take, but also our love for one another as humans, within family, friends or strangers. And without further ado, here's Anna Arans with her song Life, You are the one. Never any doubt when my tears are falling it's you that I'm calling. Life isn't always fair but just having you, you gives me life and your love I have life with your love you keep me going on this road no one knows turn the darkest corner fall into my ear you all I need, you all I see. Life isn't always fair ever Just having you gives me life and your love I have life with your love you keep me going. You give me, You are the one Never any doubt. Life isn't always fair but just having you gives me life. Thanks Anna for your track life. You can search for Anna Aarons music on Facebook or on Twitter. Just annaarons. And remember, if you want your music played here, get involved. Contact me Ickie Carter on Twitter or womsradio stn on Twitter or even email presentersradiostation.com now. Question time. Dum dum da dum. What is the best way to plan your trip? Well, first of all, research. I mean of course I love turning up to countries and not knowing where I'm going, what I'm doing. It's, it's the thrill, it's the adrenaline, it's feeling a sense of freedom. But also if you've planned and planned some time away from, from work and you spent money, it would be good to research your trip so you know where you're going. Rough idea or even what you want to see. This happened to me and my friend. We were in northern Australia, in Darwin and there is something called aquiscene experience and we were quite broke at the time but we thought, oh, this is highly rated, it sounds really good. It's in touch with nature. So the next day we went and there was a big queue outside so oh, this is looking really good. This is gonna be great. And we paid some money which we we reluctant to part with for some bread and we were like, okay, well we're quite hungry but whatever. And we ended up feeding fish. We ended up feeding fish. That was the incredible experience in Darwin. So it is good to do some research. But not only just the trust travel guides but also travel bloggers. I mean they are like us, they are travelers and they go and explore a country and you can get their own understanding and up to date travel information as well. So that's super helpful. Also look at weather as well, the seasons and festivals because that really shows a country's like local perspective and their way of life. And also it's really nice just to follow a good weather pattern as well and calculate journey time. You might be unaware of one location is is how away from another. You might have to take internal flights or overnight buses. It might be best to start from the north part of a country and travel down south or vice versa. So it's really good to be strategic with that. Also there's loads of support groups as well. Facebook groups like Girls Love Travel, female travel bloggers and there's also set travel backpacker groups as well. If you're going to a location, there might be backpackers in Myanmar for example where you can ask people for advice or network with them. And there's loads of travel websites as well where you can buddy up with fellow women or even just search for information, advice on on latest trips and finally know what you want to see. But also just go with the flow. Just go with the flow and enjoy your time there. Don't get too stressed out about what you need to see and what you need to do and make a strict routine because that just ruins the fun of it. You know, you want to go with the flow. You want to meet new people and be able to have new experiences spontaneously. So finally I'm going to end on a nice quote. Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. I'll be back with a little bit closer at Sri Lanka. See you. Women's radio station will give a voice to your brand. Advertise your product, services or goods on air with a package tailored to suit you. For more information visit womensradiostation.com hi, I'm Michelle Bartlett, the founder of Live Laugh Love Ladies Club. We're looking for ladies to link arms across the globe. This is a new vibrant brand connecting women socially. Our club members enjoy great food, fun and inspiring speakers whilst making friends in a room of all generations. If you're a social butterfly in the community, this fast growing franchise could be for you. If you would like to know more about stepping into our pink shoes then look at the business opportunity page on our website. Live laughloveloveladies.club also@womensradiostation.com hi, I'm Hope Virgo with Stand Tall on women's radio station. The programmer will be talking about mental health and eating disorders. We care about social change within communities around the world and we want to help. This is why Women's radio station is giving free airtime to all charities. For more details on charity advertising visit our website at www.womensradiostation.org. a city law Firm we are leading innovative and multi award winning solicitors in London. But why choose us? 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